Nomination of William W. Mercer

Floor Speech

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Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I rise today to speak in support of my friend Mr. Bill Mercer and his nomination to serve as the next judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana.

President Trump made an excellent choice when he picked Bill. I was thrilled to see him quickly approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and now, today, the U.S. Senate will vote in the next hour or so on his final confirmation. And I urge my colleagues to join Senator Sheehy and I in supporting his nomination.

Bill is a lifelong Montanan. He was born in Billings. We have known each other for a long time; in fact, we went to rival high schools, and we actually competed against each other in speech and debate. He was a Billings West Golden Bear, and I was a Bozeman Hawk. This is what makes America great. Two kids from Montana dreamed big, they worked hard, and now we have the opportunity to serve the State we love together.

Bill received his undergraduate degree from the University of Montana. He later went on to receive a master of public administration from Harvard and his law degree from George Mason University. Bill served his State and country in various roles over the past three decades. In Montana, he served as U.S. attorney for the District of Montana from 2001 to 2009. He represented Billings in the Montana House of Representatives for the past 7 years. Bill also worked at the U.S. Department of Justice where he served as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General and Acting Associate Attorney General during the George W. Bush administration.

He has been actively engaged in his community, serving in five nonprofit boards of directors in Montana.

Bill has been a member of the Montana Bar for 32 years. He has appeared at State and Federal court in Montana and as lead counsel in numerous cases.

He has represented clients in appellate courts, which resulted in oral arguments in 15 cases in the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the DC Circuit, and the Montana Supreme Court.

Bill has been recognized by his peers in the legal community for outstanding track records, being rated among the best lawyers in Montana for environmental and commercial litigation.

Throughout his extensive legal career and years of public service, Bill has represented Montana's interests very well. He is committed to the rule of law and the original interpretation of the Constitution.

He understands Montana's laws and issues. His experience as a widely respected and effective member of the Montana House has helped him understand the needs of our State, our families, and our communities.

I believe his time serving in Helena has given him an important perspective on the law and the importance of judicial impartiality. Federal judges play a critical role in our government. It is important that we pick servant leaders who are committed to our Founding ideals and to protecting the role of the judiciary.

These are lifetime appointments. He will have a lasting impact on both Montana and the Nation.

I have no hesitation when I say Bill is the top choice to serve as Montana's next Federal judge. I have seen his commitment to our State firsthand, and his time at the Department of Justice, as U.S. attorney, and as a State legislator prepared him well. There is not a better pick to serve the State of Montana.

I urge my colleagues to join me in voting favorably for Bill's confirmation.

I look forward to seeing the profound influence Bill will have in Montana and the Nation as he steps into this new role.

Thank you.

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